Electric-railway system.



No.- 759,244. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. G. L. ORAGG.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses; lmvenlfnr;

Q George Lfiragg. v I A1IQP 5 UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904:

PATENT OFFICE."

GEORGE L.- CRAGG, oF-oIIioAGo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoRTo BIoN J. ARNOLD;

or cIIIcAGo, ILLINoIs.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,244, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed May 22, 1902. Serial No. 108,545. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

rent may be employed in effecting travel of electric-railway vehiclesand whereby singlephase alternating-current supply-circuits may beextended along the line of travel to effect the operation of vehicles.

As is well known,-the most effective form of motor for the purpose oftransferring power and adapted for operation by single-phase alternatingcurrent is a motor which in itself is not capable of effectivelyoperating a vehicle at varying rates of speed which are required inactual practice when such motors have unchangeable-speed connection withthe running-gear, being a motor such as a synchronous motor or alag-motor having practically uniform rate of speed when most effective.In other words, the motor which is best adapted for the translation ofpower furnished by single-phase supply-circuits is a single-phase motoras distinguished from a split-phase motor. Polyphase motors wouldfurnish the necessary power obviously; but such motors would need to besupplied by polyphase distributioncircuits.

In practicing my invention I interpose a variable gear or speedconnection between the motor and the running-gear and provide, incombination with such variable gear, a motor means whereby the motor maybe started, making thus a most effective combination which will adaptsingle-phase motors for use as traction-motors.

In my present invention I provide a motive device that is not in placeupon the vehicle and which may be provided at those places where thesinglephase traction-motor upon the vehicle is to cease operation, sothat the said single phase motor may be readily brought to speed toenable the vehicle to resume travel. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention the motive device is in the form of an electric motor and ismounted upon a small car, as a hand-car. The shaft of the single-phasemotor is preferably projected laterally of the vehicle a sufficientextent to be coupled to the shaft of the startingmotor. For the purposeof coupling the shafts of the starting-motor and the single-phase motorI preferably employ a coupling-sleeve forming an element of the startingmechanism. In order that the starting-motor may be maintainedstationary, the connection between the singlephase motor and therunninggear is made separable. By making this connection separable I amalso enabled to use a motive device of smaller power than would beotherwise required for starting the single-phase motor. After thesinglephase motor has been brought to the requisite speed it may then becoupled with the vehicle running-gear, preferably by means of somesuitable clutching mechanism. Any suitable form of variable gear may beinterposed between the single-phase motor and the running-gear of thevehicle.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the operatingmechanism upon a vehicle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a moregeneral View, diagrammatically indicating a vehicle and elements of myinvention in place thereupon.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference in bothviews.

I have illustrated a source of single-phase alternating current aconnected with a supply-circuit whose mains b I) are illustrated in theform of trolley-wires extending along the line of travel. The car orother vehicle 0 is provided with trolleys d d or other suitable means ofconnection with the supply-circuit or equivalent means for receivingcurrent in any manner from the supply-circuit. These trolleys orequivalent devices are connected in circuit with a single-phase motor a,provided upon the car, the motor in this particular-instance being alag-motor, though I do not wish to be limited to a motor of this kind.

The single-phase motor operates some suitable form of variable-speedgear, that illustrated comprising a pair of cones f and g, gearing hintervening between the cone f and the shaft of the motor a, whilegearing intervenes between the cone 9 and the runninggear is of thevehicle. The pinion upon the shaft or cone 9 is loose thereon and hassecured thereto one member of a clutch Z, the other member being splinedupon the said shaft, so that when the members of the clutch are out ofengagement the cone g may rotate without operating the gearing 2'; butwhen the clutch members are in engagement a rotation of the cone 5 willcause an operation of the gearing hen the members of the clutch arelocked together, the speed of the gearing v1, and consequently therunning-gear of the vehicle, may vary with respect to the speed of themotor a and conef by an adjustment of the belt m toward or from the apexof a cone, which adjustment may be effected by a belt-shifter a. If thesingle-phase motor is to be started, the car of course being practicallyat rest, the members of the clutch Z are separated, so as to relieve themotor of load, whereupon it may operate as a splitphase motor, the shaftof said motor being preferably provided with a spline adapted forengagement with a longitudinal clutchingsleeve 0, having engagement withthe splined shaft of a starting-motor p, the splines upon the shafts ofboth motors being alined when the shafts are to be coupled by thesleeve, so that the sleeve may simultaneously engage both shafts. Aclutch-lever q is provided for shifting the sleeve into and out ofengagement with the shaft of the single phase motor. The starting-motorand the clutch-lever are preferably mounted upon a small car '2', whichmay be moved to bring the motor-shafts into alinement. After thesingle-phase motor has been brought to the requisite speed the clutch lis operated to complete the gear connection between the single-phasemotor and the running-gear of the Vehicle. When the singlephase tractionmotor g is being brought to speed, the circuit through the same ispreferably opened, as by a switch 8.

I have not deemed it essential to illustrate the details of constructionof the motors, as such construction will be apparent to any electricalengineer; nor do I wish to be limited to the mechanical featuresillustrated, as it is obvious that many changes may be made in theembodiment of the invention shown without departing from its spirit;but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In an electric-railway system, the combination witha source of single-phase current,

of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, avehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motor carried by thevehicle, a variable-gear connection between the singlephase motor andthe running-gear of the vehicle, motive means having a substantiallystationary location adapted when the vehicle is brought to such locationto engage the singlephase motor and bring the same to requisite speed,and means whereby the gear connection between the single-phase motor andthe running-gear of the vehicle may be broken, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along theline of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-cu rrent single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between thesingle-phase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and motive meanshaving a substan tially stationary location adapted when the vehicle isbrought to such location to engage the single-phase motor and bring thesame to requisite speed, substantially as described.

' 3. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along theline of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-cur rent single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between thesinglephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, amotor having asubstantially stationary location, adapted when the vehicle is broughtto such location to engage the single-phase motor and bring the same torequisite speed, and means whereby the gear connection between thesingle-phase motor and the runninggear of the vehicle may be broken,substantially as described.

4:. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along theline of travel, a vehicle, an alternatingcur rent single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, avariable-speed connection between thesinglephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, and a motorhaving a substantially stationary location, adapted when the vehicle isbrought to such location to engage the singlephase motor and bring thesame to requisite speed, substantially as described.

5. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending alongtheline of travel, a vehicle,an alternating-current single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between thesinglephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a motor having asubstantially stationary location, adapted when the vehicle is broughtto such location to engage the single phase motor and bring the same torequisite speed, means whereby the gear connection between thesingle-phaseimotor and the runninggear of the vehicle may be broken, anda car upon which the starting-motor is located, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current,

of a circuit supplied thereby extending along the line of travel, avehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motor carried by thevehicle, a variable-speed connection between the single-phase motor andthe running-gear of the vehicle, a motor having a substantiallystationary location, adapted when the vehicle is brought to suchlocation to engage the singlephase motor and bring the same to requisitespeed, and a car upon which the starting-motor is located, substantiallyas described.

7. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, ofa circuit supplied thereby extending along theline of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, a variable-gear connection between thesinglephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a motor having asubstantially stationary location, adapted when the vehicle is broughtto such location to engage the singlephase motor and bring the same torequisite speed, means whereby the gear connection between thesingle-phase motor and the runninggear of the vehicle may be broken,acar upon which the starting-motor is located, a clutching devicecarried upon the latter car, and operating mechanism for adjusting theclutching device to engage the starting-motor with the single-phasetraction-motor, substantially as described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a source ofsingle-phase current, of a circuit supplied thereby extending along theline of travel, a vehicle, an alternating-current single-phase motorcarried by the vehicle, a variable-speed connection between the singlephase motor and the running-gear of the vehicle, a motor having asubstantially stationary location, adapted when the vehicle is broughtto such location to engage the single-phase motor and bring the same torequisite speed, a car upon which the starting-motor is located, aclutching device carried upon the latter car, and operating mechanismfor adjusting the clutching device to engage the starting-motor with thesingle-phase tractionmotor, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of May, A.D. 1902.

GEORGE L. GRAGG.

